UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT  LOS  ANGELES 


GIFT  OF   CAPT.   AND   MRS. 
PAUL  MCBRIDE  PERIGORD 


UNIVERSITY  of  CAUFOKT11* 

AT 

LOS  ANGELES 
LIBRARY 


ARIZONA 

AND   OTHER   POEMS 


ARIZ  ONA 

AND    OTHER    POEMS 


BY 


ELISE  PUMPELLY  CABOT 


NEW  YORK 

P.  BUTTON  6-  COMPANY 
681  FIFTH  AVENUE 


COPYRIGHT,  1919, 
Bv  E.  P.  BUTTON  &  COMPANY 


All  Rights  Reserved 


Printed  In  the  United  States  of  America 


PS 

-35-05 


TO  T.  H.  C. 

To  thee,  whose  seasons  season  each  month's  start; 

To  thee,  who  bearest  all  my  vagrant  ways; 

To  thee,  who  summest  up  my  fill  of  days, 

Weathering;  who  for  self  most  prudent  art, 

Who  sufferest  for  me  the  incautious  part; 

To  thee,  whose  confidence  all  ill  allays, 

That  diverse  thought  'gainst  me  nor  comes  nor 

stays, 

I  dedicate  my  unreserved  heart. 
Thou  art  the  years  I  climb  the  heavens  on, 
Sure  steps  thou  makest  lead  an  upward  course. 
Thou  turnest  me  away  from  trammeling  Earth, 
And  makest  me  a  crown  of  glory  don. 
Hast  thou  not  given  me  immortal  force, 
O  husband,  mothering  thy  wife's  rebirth  1 


CONTENTS 


DEDICATION:    SONNET  TO  T.  H.  C. 


ARIZONA: 

PART  I    ARIZONA      .......        I 

PART  II  GRAND  CANYON  .....      23 

OTHER  POEMS: 

I    LOOK  NOT  AT  ME,  LOOK  AT  MY 

OUTLOOK  ROUND     .....      35 
II    THERE   is  IN  LIFE   BUT  ONE   IN 

VESTMENT     .......      36 

III  ONE  ASKED  ME   FOR  MY  CUP;  I 

GAVE  HIM  DRINK  .....       37 

IV  I  STOOD      ........      38 

V    LIFE'S  VISION  .......      4° 

VI    WE   KNOW  NOT  WHAT  WE  OUR 

SELVES  HAVE     ......  41 

VII    O  LIFE,  GIVE  ME  BACK  MY  NATAL 

GLEAM     ........  41 

VIII    REMEMBRANCE  is  LIFE  FORETOLD     .  43 
IX    TODAY  is  OUR  DIMMED  SPECK  ON 

LIFE'S  PROUD  HORIZON  LINE  .     .  44 
X    Us  WITH  OURSELVES  HARSH  TIME 

INSTILLS  ........  45 

XI    ALL  ME,  OR  NOTHING,  I  GIVE     .     .  46 

XII    I  THROW  MY  HEART  AWAY  ...  47 

XIII  LIKE  A  LEAF  I  AM  SPREAD       .     .  48 

XIV  THE  WIND  CRIES  TO  THE  SKT       .  49 

[vii] 


Page 

XV    To  T.  H.  C.,  JR 50 

XVI    To  MY  SISTER  PAULINE       ...       51 
XVII    I  CAME  UPON  A  VIOLET  GROWING 

QUITE  ALONE 52 

XVIII    RHAPSODIC  VOICE,  WHO  CRIETH  DAY      53 
XIX    O,  AUGUST   SKIES,  WHERE   is  THE 

VOICE  OF  SPRING? 54 

XX    O,  WOMAN  FROM  YONDER,  WHO  ART 

THOU? 55 

XXI    THE   MASTER   SCULPTOR   FORMS   A 

FACE  TO  STAY 56 

XXII    LIFE  LIKE  A  TREE  HIGH  REACHING 

FEELS  THE  SKY 57 

XXIII  HERE  ON  THE  WATERS  THAT  ROLL 

AND  ROAR 58 

XXIV  WINTER  HUSHED  THE  LONG  BRAWN 

COAST 59 

LOVE  POEMS: 

I    0  TIME  WHO  CARVETH  SPACE,  OUR 

SOUL'S  DESIGN! 63 

II    How  STRANGE  THAT  LOVE  FOREVER 

KEEPS  APACE 64 

III  EVER  WILT  THOU  BE   LOVED,  O, 

WIND-TOSSED  SHORE     ....       65 

IV  O  LOVE,  THOU  HAST  POSSESSION  OF 

MY  BEING 66 

V    THE  SEA  WHIRLS,  WIND  CAST,  WILD 

AND  VAST,  UNASKED    ....       67 
VI    THOU  ART  A  LOVER  OF  THE  REST 
LESS  SEA 68 

[viii] 


Page 
VII    I  DARE  TO  HOPE  THAT  THOU  CANST 

EVER  STRIVE 69 

VIII    WOULD  THAT  I  WERE  THE  NIGHT 

THOU  GLADLY  MEETEST   ...       70 
IX    LOVE  ME  NOT  FOR  SAKE  ALONE     .       71 
X    WHEN  I  SAY  I  LOVE  THEE       .     .       72 
XI    I  FIND  TOMORROW'S  SUN  AS  YESTER 
DAY     73 

XII    IF  WHEN  LIFE  PRESSETH  HARDEST  .       74 

XIII  LET    NOT    SWEET    SLUMBER    MAR 

THY  SIGHT 75 

XIV  BURNT  ARE  THE  PETALS  OF  LIFE  AS  A 

ROSE 76 

SONNETS: 

I    To  MY  MOTHER 79 

II    To  MY  FATHER  ON  His  EIGHTIETH 

BIRTHDAY 80 

III  To  MY  FATHER    ON  His   EIGHTY- 

FIRST  BIRTHDAY 82 

IV  I  WOULD  HOLD  FAST  THE  LARK  OF 

POESY 84 

V    I  KNOW  A  DISTANT  LAND  REACHED 

ONLY  BY 85 

VI    IF  SOMETIMES  LOFTY  WISH  WERE 

GRANTED  ME 87 

VII    BE   THOU   NOT   SLAIN   BY  THINE 

ADVERSITY 88 

VIII    CAN  HE  WHO  LOVES  THE  PERFUME 

OF  THE  ROSE 89 

IX    I     DEEM     THEE     FAIR     BEYOND 

BELOVED  DAY 91 

[ix] 


X    I  SOMETIMES  WISH  THAT  I  A  VIOLET 

WERE 92 

XI    UNFOLD  WITHIN  MINE  ARMS  THB 

DEPTH  OF  THINE 93 

XII    COULD  SUBSTANCE  FADE  AND  THEN 

DISINTEGRATE 94 

XIII  WHEN  WINTER  SEARS  THE  WORLD'S 

ONCE  GLOWING  FACE        .     .     .      95 

XIV  LOVED  LOVELINESS  HATH  NOT  IN 

UGLINESS 96 

XV    WHEN  THOU  ART  BY  My  MIND  No 

LONGER  THINKS 97 

XVI    THOU    KNOWEST   NOT   TO    LOVE'« 

SERENITY 98 

XVII    I   FEAR   THAT  THOU   UNUSED    TO 

ME  WILT  BE 99 

XVIII    I  ALMOST  FEAR  THAT  THOU  HAST 

GIVEN  WAY 100 

XIX    IN  THEE  is  No  INSIDIOUS  AGE  TAINT    101 
SONNETS  IN    BLANK  VERSE: 

I    HOTHOUSE  PLANTS 105 

II    INTO  A  BEWILDERED  SEA  LIFE  SENT 

A  FLEET 107 

III  WE  ALL  ARE  INDIVIDUALS,  A  PART  .  109 

IV  A  SOULLESS  CYCLE  no 


w 


ARIZONA 
PART  I.    ARIZONA 


AN  above  himself  looks  down  up 
on  himself,  vast  desert  sea,  self 
encircling  self,  wild  horizon,  tor 
ment  sea,  seething  peak  upon  peak,  writh 
ing  spray,  infested  sky,  eternal  tempest. 

Man's  life  is  irrupted  with  the  tragedy 
of  self,  indelible  shadows,  ravaged  chasms 
of  the  heart.  Man  above  himself  looks 
down  upon  himself.  Soul  knows  not  body ; 
body  knows  not  soul. 


[31 


II 

DRAGON-LIKE  Plateau,  drag- 
on  among  a  multitude  of  dragons, 
*  bareboned  reptiles  bleaching  in 
the  sun,  Life  is  a  skeleton-land  over  which 
are  hovering  reflections,  past  and  future 
fulfillments,  clinging  raiments  of  old  de 
sires,  spread  in  full  blaze  upon  the  bones 
of  the  dead.  So  we  return  clothed  with 
knowledge. 


[4] 


Ill 


jIANTS  have  done  their  utmost 
here,  unfathomable  wilderness. 
O,  depth  within,  below  mortal 
comprehension,  doth  Nature  appoint  thy 
semblance  here?  Proclaimeth  she  our 
identity  strewn  upon  her  mortal  sands? 
We  ourselves  are  witness  of  our  deeds, 
calm  visage  of  despair  awaiting  our  own 
fall. 


[51 


IV 


>ONDERFUL  night  sky  flushing 
'high  above  me,  darkling  sap 
phire,  thou  thrustest  flaming 

stars,   living   diamonds — depths   gleaming 

through  crystal  blue! 

Dark  heart  of  fire  thou — cravest — me! 

I  cannot  reach  thee.  Thou  hast  come  down. 

Lo,  Love's  Omnipotence! 


[6] 


N  the  heart  of  the  Saguaro  forest, 
ancient  tribe,  stands  a  carcass, 
stark  and  dry,  stripped  of  its  green 
mantle,  bared  of  flesh,  vulture-eaten,  skele 
ton  against  the  sky,  reminding  the  passer 
by  of  eternity  and  man's  short  hour. 


[7] 


VI 

NTO  the  giant  saguaro  brave  birds 
have  bored  their  way  to  safety. 
High  up  in  the  strong-armed 
barbed  saguaros  they  have  made  their 
nests,  invincible  ones.  Who  is  safer  than 
he  who  builds  his  home  of  thorns'?  The 
coward  fears  the  prick  of  Fate,  not  he  who 
dares  all,  becoming  himself  the  dreaded 
one : — forever  sentinel  to  those  who  fear 
him. 


[8] 


VII 

NE  moment — Earth  is  thrilled 
again;  the  cup  of  life  glows 
red.  The  Universe  partakes  the 

draught  thereof.    Almighty  Nature  holds 

us  one  and  all  enthralled. 

Love's  fire  colors  once  our  neutral  form, 

to  blacken  to  eternal  embers. 


[91 


VIII 

NO  longer  hold  myself;  wine  of 
the  air  I  am.  My  soul  breathes 
unto  night  a  thousand  answers  to 
the  stars.  I  combine  in  me  with  night  a 
full  acknowledgment,  a  sky  as  vast,  a  sky 
above — in  me. 


[10] 


IX 


>REAT  circle,  Life's  horizon,  vast 
rim,     mountain     peaks,     colossal 
Cup,  thou  art  offered  to  the  sky! 
O,    quenchless    Beyond,    thou    drawest 
man  to  thy  lips! 


[11] 


OW  wonderful  to  lie  under  the 
covering  of  night  on  the  top  of 
the  world,  face  to  face  with  the 
universe, — held  in  the  Desert's  offering 
hand,  confined  only  by  the  fingered  moun 
tain  peaks !  How  wonderful  to  gaze  into 
the  eyes  of  night,  to  be  the  gift  of  Nature 
to  the  sky,  to  live  one  moment  beyond  one's 
own  confine,  speaking  gratitude  to  the  vast 
sky! 


[12] 


XI 

AWN  !  thou  hast  every  possibility 
of  life !  What  canst  thou  not 
reveal  to  man  in  thy  flaming  sky? 
Enough  thou  sayest,  to  recreate  a  world  of 
men.  Blind  are  we.  How  many  of  us  read 
thy  words  aright1?  We  pass  them  by,  cold 
letters,  divining  not  the  fire  of  eternal  life 
behind  them  burning.  Dawn,  thy  oppor 
tunity  is  full !  We,  alas,  know  not  the 
meaning  of  thy  gorgeous  page.  Dazed  we 
watch  thy  letters  pale;  cold  embers,  left 
upon  the  sky ;  Life's  opportunity  flicker 
ing  into  naught. 

From    too    little    faith    no    knowledge 
comes. 


[13] 


XII 

LAVA  stream  once  thou  wert  hot, 
a  molten  vein, — now  thou  art 
'  cold, — still, — a  blackened  death. 
Was  it  Earth's  venomous  effort  to  lay 
waste  the  enfolded  land?  Did  she  strive 
to  free  herself  and  break  her  captive  bond"? 
Will  she  arise  some  day  clothed  in  flame, 
freed  of  her  body  here?  Earth,  thou 
ancient  sufferer,  art  thou  immortal  too? 


[Hi 


XIII 

HE  fullness  of  night's  gaze  is  upon 
me.  I  am  given  to  the  stars.  O, 
the  power  of  those  eyes !  Nature 

draws  me  into  her  farthermost  realm;  the 

whole  heaven  absorbs  me. 


[151 


XIV 

ESERT  moon ;  immersed  in  thee  I 
rise,  petty  tread  of  life  deserted ! 
There  is  no  path  for  me ;  my  feet 
fly  the  trackless  solace  of  the  heavens,  nor 
mark  my  way;  the  Universe  my  expanse, 
with  thee  great  soul  of  night. 


[16] 


XV 

>REAT  rose  flaming  on  the  moun 
tain  peak ;  thy  petals  one  by  one, 
falling,  fade.  Thou  art  blown ;  a 
headless  stalk,  sweet  memory  of  Life's  long 
day. 

So    we    outlive    our    one    moment    of 
ecstasy. 


[17] 


XVI 

ALL,  white-faced  Poppies,  your 
leaves  and  stalks  are  a  mass  of 
prickles.  O,  monsters,  big  and 
small,  ye  have  taken  armored  clothing. 
Here  is  a  land  where  individuals  abound. 
They  know  their  rights.  They  have  found 
themselves ; — bare  souls,  each  paying  with 
his  own  earnings,  Life,  for  greater  life. 


[18] 


XVII 

AWN,  creator,  thou  enfoldest — 
vision  of  life  upon  my  heart.  I 
awake;  my  love  fills  the  world. 
Who  bringeth  light  is  my  magnet.  Dawn, 
thou  flame  !  Urgent  explosive  of  day !  Fire 
of  unfailing  worth !  Thy  flash  assures 
hidden  clarity.  He  who  loveth,  knoweth 
the  inner  sun ;  he  see'th  Life's  blaze. 


[19] 


XVIII 

N  amber  spire,  rising  higher  and 
higher  against  purple  mountains; 
the  desert  vents  herself,  her  fury 
flaring  to  the  sky.  We  make  ourselves 
inventions  of  evil  doings,  a  fire  quickly 
blazed,  a  little  smoke.  Evil  endures  a 
moment's  flush,  and  then — leaves  but  a 
burnt  out  shell. 


[20] 


XIX 

FLORESCENT  desert,  butter 
fly's  wing  takes  its  hue  from 
thee.  Birds  dye  their  feathers 
deep  in  thy  bloom,  finding  in  thee  their 
own  color.  Love  finds  love  in  the  equiv 
alent  heart. 


[21] 


ARIZONA 
PART  II.    GRAND  CANYON 


XX 

'N  the  heart  of  Earth  I  am  throb 
bing,  her  life  stream  bearing  me 
on.  I  thrill  with  her  breathing, 
her  vitality !  Enshadowed,  I  am  participat 
ing  in  the  draught  of  Hell.  At  the  depth 
of  Earth's  dark  pit  I  am.  What  a  gash 
she  hath  made !  Black  walls  enclose  me. 
Earth's  tormented  breast  my  living  tomb. 
Black  river  of  torture,  writhing  senselessly, 
whirlpool  of  life,  in  vain  I  search  thee  for 
one  moment's  rest.  Whither  goest  thou, 
overflow  of  life  ? 


XXI 

HAVE  seen  the  struggling  river 
of  the  under-world,  the  incessant 
outpouring  of  Earth's  self.  The 

heart  of  Earth  penetrates  the  sea. 

She  knew  not  why  or  where  she  went,  a 

vent  of  self  to  larger  self. 


[26] 


XXII 

HE  depth  of  the  canyon  is  in  me, 
I  am  of  it.  It  is  I.  Life  created 
me  of  her  whole.  Mine  eyes  sec 
my  soul,  my  soul  of  the  depth  of  things. 
What  I  see  is  what  I  am,  what  I  see  mine. 
I  see  what  my  soul  bringeth.  In  darkness 
I  am  vast.  I  encompass  space.  My  soul 
createth  from  magnitude.  I  am  that  I  am 
— space.  I  fear  not  my  soul.  My  soul 
interpreted!  life,  and  to  life  returneth;  for 
it  is  in  the  nature  of  things  that  what 
one  giveth  cometh  back  in  full  measure. 
The  emptied  space  refilleth  with  equal 
strength,  not  like  in  kind  but  in  degree. 
Life  developeth  him  who  giveth  life. 


[27] 


XXIII 

ACH  peak  in  the  canyon  is  a  dif 
ferent  shade,  separate,  one  of  a 
whole.  Silence  ringeth  its  utter 
depth  of  silence.  Great  is  thy  voice,  O, 
Nature;  in  one  note  thou  hast  endless 
tones,  each  a  color  in  harmony  with  the 
whole!  O  canyon,  Earth's  dumb  sym 
phony,  thou  expressest  the  glory  of  silence ; 
thou  hast  colored  indeed  thy  notes.  Look 
ing  on  thee,  I  hear  thy  fathomless  Silence. 


[28] 


XXIV 

HE  crescent-shaped  horizon  out 
lines  the  canyon,  unperturbed. 
Below  lies  the  river,  a  mighty 
power,  writhing  to  find  itself.  The  crescent 
horizon  is  unconcerned ;  another  self  below 
consciousness  is  carving  its  way  to  free 
dom. 

Of  many  selves  and  opposites  are  we. 


[29] 


XXV 

ERE  could  one  exist  on  the  brink 
of  disaster,  yet  conscious  of  its 
depth.  He  who  knoweth  formeth 
insoluble  expenditure ;  he  who  avoideth 
sinketh  ever  deeper  into  the  pit  that  endeth 
not.  Give  heed  to  the  voice  that  calleth, 
lest  a  day  cometh  when  thou  wilt  hear  no' 
more,  when  thou  findest  not.  Then  shalt 
thou  be  left  as  the  soul  that  weareth  no 
knowledge  and  counteth  as  naught. 


[30] 


way. 


XXVI 

APTUROUS  Dawn  is  calling  the 
mountains  to  follow  her.  One 
moment — and  she  has  gone  her 

Death's    embers    lie,    spent    sheet 


enshrouding  them.    The  mountains  stand 
spectre  of  their  fire. 


[31] 


OTHER  POEMS 


OOK  not  at  me,  look  at  my  outlook 

round, 

Behind,  beside,  before,  far,  every 
where, 
See  what  I  see,  be  where  I've  been,  and 

dare 

All  that  I  dare,  then   find  what  I  have 
found. 

Be  me;  and  yet  let  not  myself  astound 
Even  the  me  in  thee,  for  I  must  fare 
Onward  to  horizons  where  breadths  out 
wear 

Forgottenness,    unwound,    refound,    high 
bound. 


[35] 


HERE  is  in  life  but  one  invest 
ment, 

Spending !     Thou   canst   not   save 
to  live. 
Extravagance  is  Life's  security. 


[36] 


Ill 

NE  asked  me  for  my  cup;  I  gave 

him  drink. 
My  love  was  strong — my  heart  I 

gave  him  drink. 
I  knew  not  God — my  heart  I  gave  him 

drink ; 
My  heart  I  gave  him  drink,  I  gave  him 

drink. 
My  cup  was  empty.    God!    I — gave — him 

— drink. 
God  filled  my  heart ;  God  filled  my  heart, 

my  heart. 
God  gave  me  of,  God  gave  me  of  His 

heart 
To  drink.    God  gave  me  of,  me  of,  His 

heart. 


[37] 
135932 


IV 

STOOD 
By  the  sea, 
By  the  plains, 


By  the  mountains. 

There  came 
From  the  sea, 
From  the  plains, 
From  the  mountains 

A  wind, 

Salt  from  the  sea, 
Fresh  from  the  plains, 
Soft  from  the  mountains. 

It  lifted  me 
Back  from  the  sea, 
Away  from  the  plains, 
Up  on  the  mountains. 

I  stood  on  the  mountains 
Blown  by  the  winds  of  time; 
[38] 


I  stood  there  alone 
In  a  light  divine. 

I  knelt  on  my  knees 

And  I  prayed  to  God. 

I  stood  on  my  feet 

And  I  threw  my  arms  up  to  God. 

I  cried  to  God 

"Lift  me!  Lift  me!  Lift  me! 
Take  me  away  from  all  the  evil, 
Keep  me !  Keep  me !  Keep  me !" 

God  laid  his  hand  on  my  head; 

God  took  my  hands  and  pressed  them  to 

His  lips; 

God  filled  my  soul  with  the  wine  of  love; 
God  gave  me  love  from  His  lips. 


[391 


LIFE  S  VISION 
FROM  CHRIST'S  WRITINGS  ON  THE  SAND 

PON   the  desert's   sands   I   saw  a 

face, 

Christ  marked  it  long  ago. 
How    well   he   knew   the    feature's    every 

trace, 

The  searching  eyes  of  woe. 
And  did  he  read,  as  I  have  read,  the  heart 
Packed  full  of  many  a  gem 
Stored  sacredly  for  every  man  a  part 
Could  he  but  grasp  of  them? 
And  surely   I  have   found  the  key  hung 

there. 

Christ  gave  to  Life  his  breath, 
Into  whose  eyes  he  gazed,  through  which 

and  where 
He  saw  God's  smile,  not  death. 


[40] 


VI 


know  not  what  we  ourselves 

have. 

We  are  striving  for  that  per 
fection 

That  we  already  have. 
For  nothing  else  attracts. 
What  we  are  in  our  depth 
Attracts  us  back. 


[40 


VII 

LIFE,   give  me  back  my  natal 

gleam, 

'  Teach  me  what  I  knew  not  that 
I  knew! 


[42] 


VIII 


EMEMBRANCE  is  Life  foretold, 
The  backward  glance  the  Future 
'sold. 


[43] 


IX 

O-DAY   is  our  dimmed  speck  on 

Life's  proud  horizon  line ; 
I  see  it  with  my  far  questioning 
eye. 
What  doth  it  mean  in  ages'  climb  to  mine 

and   thine 
Accomplishment  this  brilliant  day  passed 

by? 

It  is  the  tarnished  mark  of  our  indebted 
ness — 
We  are  but  spent  instants  without  redress. 


C441 


S  with  ourselves  harsh  Time  instils, 
His  hammer  mocks  the  emptiness. 
Ourselves  with  self,  each  second 
fills; 
And  silence  tolls  the  hollow  years. 


[45] 


XI 

LL  me,  or  nothing,  I  give ; 

Air  that  I  breathe,  or  no  air ; 

Dust  of  my  treading  before, 
Prints  of  my  life  as  I  live ; 
Soul  of  me  searchingly  bare ; 
All  of  me,  all — even  more. 


[46] 


XII 

THROW  my  heart  away 
As  a  bird  who  sings  all  day 
Giving  her  song  away. 

I  cheer  the  passers  by 

And  lonely  souls  who  die 

All  shrivelled  and  unfed, 

Just  so  my  heart  I  spread. 


147] 


XIII 

IKE  a  leaf  I  am  spread 
Soft  upon  a  frozen  ground. 
While  I  warm  all  beneath 
Am  I  withering  on  the  ground? 


[48] 


XIV 

HE  wind  cries  to  the  sky, 
"I  will !    I  will !    I  will !" 
And  I  to  thee,  yet  still, — 
The  wind,  and  even  I! 

O  sky,  knowest  thou  why, 
Why  wind  and  I  will,  will? 
Is  Life  more  Life  to  fill  ? 
Ah,  Love  I  will, — and  die. 


[49] 


XV 


TO  T.  H.  C.,  JR. 

|  HEN   I   look  at   thy   sweet  up 
turned  face, 

Thine  eyes   true   and  grave,   I 
scarcely  trace 

The  boy  thou  art,  for  in  thy  glance 
I  clearly  see  as  in  a  trance, 
The  man  of  thee.   Thy  whole  soul's  worth 
Lies  mellowed,  thou  wert  ripe  at  birth. 


[50] 


XVI 


TO    MY   SISTER  PAULINE 


rosebud  faded  and  died  on  the 
stalk, 
The   rose   that  was   once   so   fair 

to  see, 
To  breathe  of  and  love,  to  crave  and  to 

kiss. 
O  God,  thy  roses  are  sweet,  sweetened  by 

Thee— 

The  rosebud  faded  and  died  on  the  stalk, 
The  rose  that  gave  me  her  fill.  Did  I  miss 
A  breath  of  her  heart,  or  a  dart  of  her 

thrill? 
O,   the   bewildering   sips   of  her   honeyed 

lips, 

Fiery  sips !   Mine  she  is  still,  the  stalk 
Of  her  stark,  and  her  will  mine  to  fulfil. 


[51] 


XVII 

CAME    upon    a    violet    growing 

quite  alone, 

In  a  mossy  dell,  deep  down,  dark 
as  a  prisoner's  cell ; 
Yet  even  there  the  sun  peeped  through  the 

bars  of  stone 
To   search   the  heart  of  the  hidden  one. 

There's  ne'er  a  part 
Of  earth  too  black  for  Life's  reclaim.  The 

violet  won 

Her  triumph  crown,  the  bluest  flame  of 
the  burning  sun. 


XVIII 

HAPSODIC  voice,  who  crieth  day 
What  usherest  thou  in  ecstasy"? 
New  hope   more  permanent  than 

yesterday ! 

Or  breakest  thou  another  heart  as  they 
Who    carve     invisibly     Love's     wrecking 

way1? 

O,  throat  triumphant,  every  day 
Will  choose  the  trumpeter,  let  come  what 

may. 

Art  thou  an  omen  then  who  seemest  gay, 
Or   pilot   good,   through   Dawn   to   Eve? 

Then  pray 

Sweet  anchorage  for  each  sad  soul  astray. 
Relief  thou  bringest  sure.    Glad  bird,  O 

stay. 


[531 


xrx 

AUGUST   Skies,  where   is  the 

voice  of  Spring? 
July  hath  heard  the  latest  bird 
last  sing. 
And  June,  O,  June,  how  many  more  to 

thee 
Have  called  sincerest  hearts  incessantly? 

August  Skies  are  ye  dumb,  or  is  hope  fled  ? 
Have  ye  the  will?    Burdened  fail  ye  to 

spread 
Glad  being  afar?     O,  August  Skies  wide 

cries 
High  silences,  await  next  Spring's  replies. 


[54] 


XX 

WOMAN  from  Yonder,  who  art 

thou? 
Of  world's  evolving  heights  thy 

brow 

Whose  eyes  eternal  are,  Life's  star, 
And  Heaven's  arch  thy  presence  far. 
Magnet  impending  love  thou  art, 
The  immensity  of  whole  Time's  heart. 
Insatiable  being  thou  art  all ! 
Created,  creating  call's  call. 

O,  Woman  from  Yonder,  near  and  far, 
Thou  flamest  ages,  star  to  star. 


[551 


XXI 

HE  Master  Sculptor  forms  a  face 
to  stay, 

Draws      Nature's      unadulterated 

might, 

Prints  of  the  Master  mind,  reflected  light. 
Slowly  he  molds  immortal  lips  of  clay, 
As  silently  he  pours  his  heart  away. 
His  spirit  hums  in  marble,  flaming  bright, 
Resplendent  of  the  Master's  visioned  sight, 
Illumined  image  of  the  day. 


C56] 


XXII 

IFE  like  a  tree  high  reaching  feels 

the  sky; 

Yet     underground     we     nourish 
fruitfulness, 
Ourselves    dependents,    roots    entangling, 

less 

Our  making  than  of  circumstance  whereby 
We  feed  our  bodies  need.  Uplooking, 

why? 

Body  ascends  and  soul  descends,  the  stress 
Of  each  for  each.  O,  yearning  one,  express 
Thy  Earth-tied  self  in  Soul's  immensity ! 


[57] 


XXIII 

ERE  on  the  waters  that  roll  and 

roar,  the  sea  tide  of  Life, 
We  rise  and  we  float  in  and  out, 
dashed  by  the  spray — call  it  strife. 
We  smother,  we  choke,  baffled  for  breath, 

our  hearts  toward  the  sun. 
Yearning  we  clutch  and  we  reach  up — our 

desire  is  won — 
Too  often  we  sink  drowned  in  the  depths 

in  the  raging  of  strife. 
Is  it  the  hand  of  Fate  in  our  midst  drag 
ging  us  down?   Call  it  Life. 
Life  kills,  and  Life  gives  life  to  her  souls 
tossed  high  on  her  foam. 


[58] 


XXIV 

[INTER  hushed  the  long  brawn 

coast, 

Winter,  an  eternal  drear! 
Flank  on  flank  the  ice  ranks  fell, 
Bearded    rocks,    dead    men    to    the    skies 

upheld, 

Glassy-eyed  and  open-mouthed 
The  sun  bedazzling  them. 
Along  the  coast,  the  iron  coast, 
Grim  winter  sternly  stood. 
And  the  beat  of  salt  froze  ghastly  white. 
The  ocean  spray  rose — stark! 
Winter  clung  with  permanence — 
A  frozen  sky,  a  frozen  sea, 
Frozen  heart  upon  the  coast  of  Death. 


[59] 


LOVE  POEMS 


TIME  who   carveth  space,  our 

soul's  design! 

Out    of    the    past    thou    stealest 
foundation, 

Makest  another  form  where  Love  returneth 
To  find  always  her  own  self-lit  outline ; 
For  love  with  love  will  ever  be  redone. 
All  poureth  back,  all  that  Love,  sculptor 
learneth. 


[63] 


II 


OW    strange    that    Love    forever 

keeps  apace 

With  us.    To-day  is  run  its  time 
ly  course, 

To-morrow  never  hath  a  moment's  loss. 
How  strange  that  in  this  earthly  daily  race 
Love  makes  the  trace  of  our  immortal  face. 
Then  thinkest  thou  Love  in  haphazard's 

toss 

Is  met?    Ah,  no,  Love  with  infinite  force 
Afore  appointed  comes  to  find  her  place! 


[64] 


Ill 

VER  wilt  thou  be  loved,  O,  wind- 
tossed  shore, 
Thy  sweet  will  be  sea  lapped,  thy 

lips  regained, 
As    oft    in    wild    embrace    thy    heart    is 

drained ; 
The  clamoring  waves  now  clasp  thee  as 

before ; 
Thy  '  de-swept  bosom  yields,  heart  craved 

of  yore. 

Still  mastered  of  a  passion  unrestrained, 
Thy  form  bared  to  the  sea,  sun-burned, 

salt-stained, 
Is    Nature's    own,    sea-drenched    forever 

more. 


[65] 


IV 


LOVE,   thou   hast  possession  of 

my  being, 

I  think  no  longer  ill  of  any  one. 
Could    I,    I   would;    but   all   thought   ill 

begun 

Turneth  to  love.    My  love  possesseth  see 
ing, 

And  love  denieth  every  ill,  agreeing 
To  refill  ill  with  love  till  ill  be  done. 
O  Love,  thou  art  my  will.    Immortal  sun, 
Thou  bringest  Faith,  a  heart  of  love  ill 
freeing ! 


[66] 


HE  sea  whirls,  wind  cast,  wild  and 

vast,    unasked, 

Mournful    and   glad,   bewildered, 
sad,  unmasked, 

Every  emotion  fed  and  bled,  wind  led, 
Only    the    boundless    is    spread    without 
dread. 


[67] 


VI 

HOU  art  a  lover  of  the  restless 
sea;  Therein  thou  art  component 

of  her  heart. 
Hath  she  not  reached  herself  in  equal  part 
To  thee?   Attractions  mirror  like  must  be. 
Thou  hast  in  thee  the  vastness  of  the  free. 


[68] 


VII 

DARE  to  hope  that  thou  canst 

ever  strive 

In  thy  heart's  thought  of  me.    If 
fire  could 
Die   pale,   and   shattered,   crumble,   ashes 

would 

Outlive  the  leap  of  flame  from  which  alive 
A  murmur  breathes  revibrant  to  survive 
Forgetful  nothingness.  As  such  I  should 
In  gratitude  bless  thee  who  understood 
Me    once,    that    moment    must    forever 
thrive. 


[69] 


VIII 

[OULD  that  I  were  the  night  thou 

gladly  meetest, 

Night  they  grateful   receiver — 
Dark  night  thou  greetest; 
Into  her  arms  thou  fallest,  one  with  night, 
She  claimeth  all  of  thee,  thou  her  delight. 
Oh,  that  I  were  deep  night;  to  her  thou 

leapest 
In   full   desire,   thy   lips   with   hers   thou 

keepest, 

With  night  thou  dreamest  love,  in  rap 
turous  sleep, 
And  then  do  thou  and  she  the  heavens  keep. 


[70] 


IX 


jOVE  me  not  for  my  sake  alone, 
Love  me  for  the  sake  of  nothing 

that  is  known, 
Love  me  for  thy  sake  and  for  my  sake, 

and  for  what  thou  feelest, 
Though   all   things   fail   thee,   still   thou 

stealest 
The  light  of  the  aoul. 


[71] 


'HEN  I  say  I  love  thee 
I    mean    more    than    love    can 

bring. 
When  I  love  thee 
I  lay  at  thy  feet 
Every  atom  of  the  universe. 
Big  and  small  my  heart  is. 
Little  when  it  contains  me  alone. 
And  vast — when  thou  and  all  else  consume 

me. 

Therefore,  O!  My  Beloved,  with  thee 
I  am  omnipotent. 


[72] 


XI 

FIND  to-morrow's  sun  as  yester 
day; 

To-day  is  half  begun.    How  shall 

I  say 

I  found  to-morrow  done,  when  yesterday 
Is  yet  but  scarcely  won,  to-day  at  play, 
To-morrow  not  begun?     And  yet  I  may, 
For  in  thine  eye,  true  one,  as  yesterday 
I  see  eternal  sun.    To-morrow's  ray 
More  bright  the  future  won,  and  yesterday 
Fulfills  to-day's  own  sun,  so  makes  to-day 
To-morrow  surely  won,  and  yesterday 
To-day  and  every  day  a  foretold  day. 


[73] 


XII 

F  when  Life  presseth  hardest, 
And  thou  afar  art  farthest 
Even  from  me, 
Ariseth,  keener  prying, 
One  note,  thy  heart  outcrying 
Thy  love  for  me. 

For  all  I  gave  thee,  still 

Am  giving,  now  fulfill 

In  loving  me. 

Since  such  thy  precious  longing 

Can  never  be  thy  wronging, 

Forgive — then — me. 


[74] 


XIII 

not   sweet   slumber   mar   thy 
sight, 

Or  blur  thy  memory  of  me. 
Let  through  this  night  thy  vision  be 
A  star — of  brilliancy, 
Throwing    through    blackness    beams    of 

light 

Upon  thy  spirit  bright. 
Even  when  Dawn  is  hov'ring  nigh, 
Quivering  through  the  sky, 
Let  me  then  beam  on  thee. 
Let  me  thy  day-star  be 
Tho'  faded  out  of  sight 
A  flame  still  burning  in  thy  memory. 


[75] 


XIV 

URNT  are  the  petals  of  Life  as  a 
rose  fallen  and  crumbled  to 
dust. 

Blackened  the  heart  of  the  past  is,  ashes 
that  must 

Forever  be  sifted,  more  precious  than  sun 
beams  that  open  the  budding  to 
morrow. 

Once  was  a  passion  completed, — too  per 
fect,  the  Gods  had  not  broken  to 
borrow — 

Blackened  the  heart  of  the  past  is,  ashes 
that  must 

Forever  be  sifted.  O,  loving  to-morrow 

The  rose  of  the  past  is,  Life — Eternity's 
dust. 


[76] 


SONNETS 


TO  MY  MOTHER 

[HAT    unimprisoned    sun    sprite 

stole  Night's  star 
Bejewelled  eyes?     What  dawn 
beperfumed  rose 
Rebudded  lips  for  Love's  dew  cup — who 

knows  ? 

What  glistening  lily  mirrored  from  afar 
The  fiery  Phoebus  his  sun-gashed  scar 
Perpetuating  Love's  relentless  throes? 
Who   hath    assembled    these,    thy   heaven 

glows, 
O   Venus,   betimes   melting   Earth's  heart 

bar? 
Goddess,  thou  hast  thyself  made  thyself 

sweet. 

Ever  Life  stealing  from  thine  ultimate 
Life  state,  uniting  thine  intelligences, 
Immortal  sparks,  thy  radiant  self  complete. 
O  heart,  a  wondrous  love  thou  dost  relate, 
Thyself  thine  heir  of  beauty's  essences. 

[791 


II 


TO  MY  FATHER  ON  HIS  EIGHTIETH 
BIRTHDAY 

OW  summer  finds  her  sweets  ac 
ceptable, 

And    every    wind    that    harshly 
shook  her  head 
Dies   down,   and   only   Love's   warm   sky 

instead 

Now  silently  unfolds  her  breast;  the  dull 
Winds  whispering  of  Charity,  a  lull 
In  Life's  wild  storm,  the  peace  of  Heaven 

spread 

Upon  the  quiet  heart  of  earth.  Not  dead — 
She  is  creating  life  insatiable. 
And   thus    art   thou,    my    father,    in   thy 

bloom. 
From  all  thy  life  thou  drawest  now  more 

life; 

Above  thy  calm  the  fragrant  rose  uplifts, 

And  every  day  some  lesser  bud  gives  room 

[80] 


To   greater   truth.    For  thee  there   is  no 

strife. 
Life's   Regent — thou   fulfillest   Summer's 

gifts. 


[81] 


Ill 

TO  MY  FATHER  ON  HIS  EIGHTY-FIRST 
BIRTHDAY 

O  thy  persistent  youth  I  dedicate 
Thine  age,  thine  eighty-one  out- 
reaching  years. 
Time  who,  fulfilled  with  hope,  discarding 

fears, 

Now  looks  to  thee,  the  Summer  of  last  late 
Spring;   such  is   Life's  unfolding  of  her 

great. 

And  every  year  but  adds,  to  grandeur  rears 
Luxuriant  foliage.  To  what  then  steers 
Thy  growth  ?  Next  and  next  Spring.  Life 

doth  await. 

In  what  mysterious  awakening  art 
Thou  found,  when  honey  fills  the  bud  of 

life? 
What  sky  doth  mock  the  blue  of  flowers' 

gloss 
That  leads  thee  to  thy  strength,  immortal 

heart? 

[82] 


Thou  knowest  not  when  thou  art  deep  in 

strife, 
Then    dost    thou    win,    win    to   toss   back 

Life's  dross. 


[83] 


IV 


WOULD  hold  fast  the  lark  of 

poesy, 
Some  moments  he  hath  given  me 

his  wing. 

Above  sad  Earth  we  gaily  soared,  trilling 
Rich  cadences  with  grace  notes  wild  and 

free. 

No  sun  hath  proven  stronger  brilliancy, 
And  never  looked  so  small  the  little  thing 
We  call  the  world.   O  rhapsodic  bird,  now 

bring 

Compelling  influence  to  quicken  me ! 
Once  thy  melodious  self  became  my  guide. 
Give  me  thy  spirit  voice,  my  soul  awaken ! 
Alone  I  may  not  reach  that  realm  of  thine. 
There  is  no  service  I  would  not  with  pride 
Perform  to  meet  thy  need.  Thy  will  be 

slaken 
Even  as  thou  hast  given  me  Life's  wine ! 


[84] 


KNOW  a  distant  land   reached 

only  by 
A  hard,  untravelled   road,  where 

Patience  leads 
When  Doubt  prevails,  and  Contradiction 

pleads. 

I  have  been  there,  not  to  abide.  Yet  why? 
Because  my  cherished  land  exists  to  die, 
And    dying,    lives    again    when    my   soul 

needs. 

I  find  no  guiding  foot-prints  under  weeds 
Quick  sprung  on  my  last  route.     Await 

heart's  cry. 
Such  land  may  well  be  swept  by  loring- 

ness, 

Aye — all  men's  need.  And  from  the  whirl 
wind  of 

Desire,  let  aspiration  wing  afar, 
As  seedlings  sow  their  seeds  blown  wide. 

Not  less 

[85] 


May  Future  harvest  from  the  land  where 

Love, 
Boundless,  vibrates  to  the  farthest  star. 


[86] 


VI 


sometimes     lofty     wish     were 

ranted  me, 

As    spiked    mountain    spears    the 
ever  blue, 

And  heaven  never  failed  to  be  true, 
I'd  be  possessor  of  serenity 
O'erlooking  Life,  in  Safety,  held  by  thee 
Enswooned  forever  in  sky-sweetened  dew. 
Better  Life's  thorn-pricked  soul  that  striv 
ing  grew 

To  royal  height  of  perpetuity. 
If  perfect  life  the  unattainable  goalless 
Goal,  were  in  itself  an  attainable  quest, 
Then     mortals'     wishes     were     mountain 

peaks'  full  worth 

Attainment;  but  Life  is  itself  the  soulless 
Aiming  higher,  regrasping,  losing,  lest 
Too  good  should  spoil.   Life  is  a  ceaseless 
birth. 


[87] 


VII 

JE  thou  not  slain  by  thine  adversity ; 
Harsh  winds  have  ever  borne  the 

forests'   gloom, 
With  tattered  leaves  have  scattered  silvern 

room 

To  be  o'erspread  with  sunbeam  tracery. 
Joy  must  prevail,  nor  heart  can  crushed  be 
Whilst  Nature   fills.    And   budding   Life 

will  bloom 

From  Spring  to  Spring  in  the  eternal  loom, 
As  such  the  hope  of  Life's  ancestral  tree. 
In  every  nook  still  waits  the  living  seed, 
Faith.   Be  thou  ready,  Life  cannot  escape. 
If  mosses  hide  once  lovely  lips,  again 
Will  rise  with  sweeter  kiss  another's  lead, 
Life's  harmony.    For  such  the  woods  un- 

drape 
Hid  beauty  to  give  their  eternal  grain. 


[88] 


VIII 

AN  he  who  loves  the  perfume  of 
the  rose, 

Who  knows  Love's  perfect  petaled 
harmony, 

Exquisite  flush  from  heart  to  lip,  not  be 
Diviner    of   the    Spring-tide    blush?    He 

knows 
The  pulse  within  Earth's  ripening  breast 

quick  grows. 
He  knows   the   fragrance  flowers   breathe 

deeply, 
'Neath    budding    trees'    embrace,    Life's 

secrecy. 
He  knows   through  every  leaf   and   fern 

Love  glows. 
Spring,  Spring,  O,  Spring,  thou  art  Love's 

complete  answer! 

Her  promise  to  herself,  fulfillments  fill. 
O,  Love  infallible  Greatest  thou 
Posterity,  thy  promise  Life's  advancer? 
[89] 


Thou  art  then  Spring,  born  of  immortal 

will, 
Progenitor  of  Life's  continual  Now. 


[90] 


IX 


DEEM  thee  fair  beyond  beloved 

Day 
Into  whose  eyes  I  cannot  gaze  my 

fill. 

Her  too  great  brilliance  doth  my  sight  en- 
thrill 

With  dazzling  emptiness.  I  turn  away 
To  find  a  darkness, blankwithblankatplay ; 
And  then  I  know  that  she  my  thought  doth 

kill. 

To  my  dismay  I've  lost  my  precious  will, 
For  she  who  seemeth  fair  doth  all  betray. 
But  thou,  O  midnight  flame,  art  my  soul's 

light, 

I  cannot  get  enough  of  thy  dark  blue. 
From  searching  thee,  I  still  must  search 

again. 
Endless   my   quest   and   endless   my   soul 

sight. 

O  everlasting  strength,  thine  eyes  me  drew 
To  thine  own  silence,  my  eternal  plane ! 
[91] 


SOMETIMES  wish  that  I  a  vio 
let  were 
Of    deepest   blue,    the   midnight's 

sapphire  hue, 

With  starred  eyes  gazing  wistfully  at  you, 
And  I  spell-bound — Ah !    I  could  no  way 

stir — 

Yet  gazing  ever  up,  I  might  incur 
A  rapturous  glance  from  you,  "My  radiant 

blue 
Is  all  for  you."    You'd  say,  "This  violet 

grew 

For  me, — "  grasp  me,  O,  if  I  a  violet  were 
You'd  place  me  on  your  breast, — wear  me 

with  pride, — 

If  I  a  violet  were.   I'd  be  a  sweet 
To  you, — a  sweet  beyond  compare, — if  I 
A  violet  were.  Ah !  Could  I  but  abide 
On  your  heart,  once  supremely  yours,  I'd 

greet 

E'en  death,  and  you'd  be  my  eternity. 
[92] 


XI 


NFOLD    within    mine    arms    the 

depth  of  thine 
Own  aromatic  breast's  wild  frag- 

rancy. 

I'll  drink  in  ecstasy  thy  breath  away ; 
Thou  be  my  saturating  perfumed  wine. 
Press  more  and  more  of  sweet  thy  lips  on 

mine, 

Cling  thou  to  my  insatiate  heart  I  pray, 
Enclasp  thy  self  to  me,  forever  stay, 
Twined  closer,  even  than  a  twisted  vine. 
Give  me  love  heaped  on  love  immeasurable, 
Sparkling,  prof usioned  love ;  unslakened  be 
Our  thirst,  creating  ever  new  a  sweet 
Unlimited,  that  we  may  deep  instil 
Each  other's  love,  revivified  and  free, 
Our  hearts  flushed  to  love's  wild  immortal 

beat. 


[93] 


XII 

OULD   substance   fade   and   then 

disintegrate ; 

As  distant  air  quick  travels  mak 
ing  naught 
Of   space !     Could   I    afar   from   thee   be 

wrought 
Unto  thy  mind,  awake  with  thee !    Could 

Fate 

Assign  us  each  to  each !     'Spite  ultimate 
Obstacle,    let    us    appear    summoned    by 

thought. 
Could    I    remain,    as    in    thy    heart    once 

brought, 

Thy  love,  life  of  thy  life  insatiate ! 
Across  Life's  broadening  deep  our  whisper 
ing 

Memories  reach,  too  strong  not  to  subsist, 
Too  yearning  to  be  fed,  too  patient  held, 
Until,  O  Fate  again  insistent,  bring 
Us  face  to  face.  Though  mortal  bars  exist 
We  shall  remeet  in  Love's  fulfilling  weld. 
[94] 


XIII 

'HEN  Winter  sears  the  world's 

once  glowing  face 
What  hath  the  future  then  in 
store  for  it? 
Could'st    thou    suppose    another    Spring 

could  sit 

Upon  so  drear  a  brow,  the  dread  replace 
Redoubling  charms  without  a  single  trace 
Of  woe  bygone?    And  I  alone  unlit 
Bythee — howcould  I  know  thou  wer'tenwrit 
Upon  my  book  of  fate  by  Heaven's  grace  ? 
Thou  hast  returned,  more  blessed  than  the 

rose 

To  June's  adored  cheek,  a  richer  sweet. 
O  heart,  bewildering  from  what  deep  thy 

kiss? 
Hast    thou    the    swerveless    strength    no 

mortal  knows? 
Thou   bring'st   unflinching   life   to   Life's 

wild  beat, 

O  lips,  avowing  everlasting  bliss! 
[95] 


XIV 

3OVED    Loveliness    hath    not    in 

ugliness 
Dissolved  all :   for  Loveliness  in 

thee 

Doth  dwell.   Sweetheartedness  will  ever  be 
The  nectar  Beauty  craves,  and  Love  not 

less 
Thy    lovingness.     Could    summer    skies 

express 

Thy  kindly  eyes,  such  beaming  purity, 
Or  Mother's  joy  in  baby's   smile?    E'en 

see 

Tenderness  doth  thy  loveliness  confess. 
Lavishing  soul  of  Loveliness,  why  grieve  ? 
White  rose  of  Godliness  could  not  fulfill 
In  more  sublime  a  bloom  than  thou.   Then 

leave 

Full  memories,  dear  sweetening  heart,  until 
Lovingness  doth  all  Loveliness  retrieve, 
Thy  loveliness  become  immortal  will. 

[96] 


XV 

HEN  Thou  art  by  my  mind  no 

longer   thinks ; 

Like  to  the  shallow  pool  without 
relation 

To  Life  I  seem  to  be,  nor  no  sensation 
Of  poignant  winds  upon  my  surface  sinks 
Within.  Awake  and  blank  I  seem,  yet  links 
My  soul  with  thine  as  perfect  as  creation 
Mating    land    and    sea.     Thou    bringest 

Love's  libation 

Of  whose  full  deep  Eternity's  lip  drinks. 
Think  not  the  quiet  surface  of  my  soul 
Denotes  a  void  beneath.   Thou  couldst  not 

know 
Thou,  being  all,  that  thou  strong  one,  art 

sun 

Upon  my  heart's  fulfilled  brimming  whole. 
O,  messenger  of  Nature's  bounteous  flow 
Thou  drawest  deep  to  deep,  forever  one. 


[97] 


XVI 

knowest  not  to  Love's  seren 
ity 

There   comes    an   ui!forseen,   un 
called  for  change. 

O    Summer's    gilded    one,    couldst    thou 
estrange 

Thyself    from    thy    heart's    warmth    and 
frigid  be 

Before  thy  nature  turned  her  seasonably 

Grimmed  face,  a  blight  thus  to  arrange 

For  thy  acceptance  in  her  storage  grange '? 

Thou  art  as  Life,  blown  reed  of  Life,  less 
free. 

And    thou    couldst    never    know    Love's 
Autumn  comes 

Thou  bloom,  with  nothing  to  aspire  to ! 

O  powerful  one,  thou  hast  no  power  as  ye'  ; 

Even  thyself  against  thyself  will  numb 

Thy  love,  no  matter  what  thy  heart  would 
do. 

Unheeded  we  may  call  to  our  sun,  set. 
[98] 


XVII 

FEAR  that  thou,  unused  to  me 

wilt  be 

From  being  all  too  used.  As  when 
the  sun 

Diverted  from  his  daily  sight  by  one 
Impervious  cloud  almost  forgets  to  see, 
Whilst  unforgiving  earth  all  drenchingly 
Faces  blank  sky;  for  her  the  day  is  done, 
And  her  response  had  only  just  begun. 
Love,  thou  could'st  ever  find  more  love  in 

me. 

Should  every  day  return  thee  to  my  side, 
As  constant  light  in  pledge  with  summer's 

eye, 

More   brilliant   keeping   touch   with   rap 
turous  time 
Than  merely  day  could  do.  Should'st  thou 

abide 

I  would  excel  as  flower  the  bud,  nor  die 
Perpetually  in  bloom,  as  thou,  sublime. 

[99] 


XVIII 

ALMOST    fear    that   thou   hast 

given  way. 
Too  much  of  me,  and  than  a  cold 

exchange ! 

Summer,  too  hot,  burnt  out  her  fire  day, 
Into  the  black  recesses  of  Life's  grange 
Death's  ashes  piled  recall  the  urgent  past. 
Unrivalled  summer  can  not  be  forgot, 
Ani    nothing  is  that  can  forever  last 
Except  fulfilling  memory,  or  blot, 
Or  blight  of  winter  taking  summer's  place. 
Winter's    enfringement    mars    the    happy 

light 
Of  summer's    golden    gown   and    smiling 

face. 
Yet    Summer    gone,   cold    winter   hath   a 

right. 
Through   Life's  persistent  voice   an   echo 

rings 
Forecasting  past  and  future  minglings. 

[100] 


XIX 

N  thee  is  no  insidious  age  taint. 
Thou    hast    with    youth    enam 

cured  thy  warm  being, 
With  every  climate  thy  proved  heart  agree 
ing. 
With  each  exchange   each   season's   trace 

more  faint. 
Thou    art   Life   resolute.     Whilst   others 

paint 

A  broad  outlook,  thou  truly  art  farseeing. 
And  youth  in  thee  continually  is  feeing 
Age,    that    he    may    not    thee    with    him 

acquaint. 

As  the  one  perfect  oak  stands  unmolested 
Dost  thou,  the  forests'  best,  the   greater 

tree, 

And  all  because  of  thy  magnanimous  heart. 
Thy   powerful    mind    desires    Life    unar- 

rested. 

And  generosity  outgiveth  thee. 
High  reaching  to  wide  fulfillment  thou  art. 
[101] 


SONNETS    IN    BLANK    VERSE 


HOTHOUSE    PLANTS 


HEY  feel  the  sun,  but  do  they  feel 

the  world's 

Heart  beat?    Or  ever  breathe  the 
pain  of  love? 


Life's  gard'ner  rears  too  many  sheltered 
flowers, 

True  in  safe  keeping  they  abide  untouched, 

Perfect  hybrids,  living  protected  lives; 

But  what  know  they  of  aught  beyond  his 
hand? 

Their  petals  never  feel  the  urgent  bee 

Draw    life    from   their   soft   unbelieving 
selves 

To  well  again  with  knowledge  dear,  re 
made; 

Their  usefulness  once  found,  could  they 
be  tame? 

Yet  unsuspecting  they  must  fade  and  die 
[105] 


While  knowing  naught  but  their  own  glass 

house  world. 

Not  so  is  it  to  those  who  grow  up  wild, 
They  know  too  well  the  blood  that  fills 

their  veins. 
They  know  that  they  are  made  for  love 

and  pain, 
They  know  that  Life  is  sweet  although  it 

stings. 


[106] 


II 


'NTO  a  bewildered  sea  Life  sent  a 

fleet; 

In  mystery  she  left  them  founder 
ing. 
Would  they  return?   Not  they,  upon  Her 

quest. 

Lost  in  the  ocean's  mightiness  they  found 
Themselves ;    Life's    own    Truth    seeking 

company. 

From  horizon  to  horizon  they  swiftly  sped 
Avoiding    most    the    world's    frequented 

routes. 
In    confidence    was    found    Life's    hidden 

gleam. 
What  makes  men — men?    The  ships  they 

steer  themselves, 
Launched  on  Life's  main,  frail  unprotected 

crafts 

Battling  determinedly  their  own  will's  way. 

From  port  to  port  forth  sailing  farther  out 

[107] 


Away  from  narrow  straits  to  open  seas 
Where  Life  rolls  large,  where  Life  is  filled 
with  Life. 


[108] 


Ill 


all  are  individuals,  a  part 
Ourselves,   and   something   else, 

We  are  the  breath 
Of  mightiness,  each  one  of  us  of  worth. 
We  all  belong  with  equal  right  to  God. 
And  yet,  let  one  of  us  but  err  in  the  world's 
Accepted  code,  that  one  then  loses  all — 
Aye,  personality.  From  that  day  on 
He  is  his  crime ;  his  crime  hath  swallowed 

him. 

Yet  even  so  he  is  himself.  His  soul 
Awaketh  him ;  he  knows  the  God  within. 
What  makes  one  weaken  in  the  chain  of 

right  ? 

God  only  knows,  and  just  as  sure  as  men 
Are  men,  saves  individuality. 
Sin  unforgiven  is  by  men  alone. 


[109] 


A  SOULLESS  CYCLE 

MOON  rose  vacant  in  a  world  of 

naught, 

A  ghostly  face  to  mirror  empti 
ness, 
Our  thoughtless  selves  outlining  our  own 

fate, 

Forgetful  that  we  live  to  live  again. 
Forgetful  that  this  life  is  our  salvation, 
Forgetful  that  each  moment  lives  or  dies. 
We  make  of  this  what  we  hereafter  are. 
O  moon,  thou  art  our  absolute  recorder, 
The  nothingness  of  us  thou  hast  revealed. 
Of  naught  can  aught  remain?  From  earth 

we  grow, 

Remolded  over — one  from  one  evolving, 
Another  moon  foretells  our  emptiness, 
A  spectral  omen  of  a  wasted  life. 


[110] 


A    000  922  903     o 


UNIVERSITY  of  CALlFOKWl* 

AT 

LOS  ANGELES 
LIBRARY 


